The Spirit of Prophecy (26th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

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The book of Numbers records for us how Moses struggled to lead Israelites during their wilderness wanderings. The particular passage in our readings comes right after the appointment of the seventy elders who were assigned to ease the burden of Moses by listening to the complaints of the people of Israel (Numbers 11:16-24). These elders were appointed to show that even a great man such as Moses cannot do everything by himself, but has to share the burden by delegate some responsibilities to others. Here, we see God confirming the appointment of the elders by placing His Holy Spirit upon them and causing them to prophesy.

In addition, God also placed the Spirit upon two men who were not in among the elders, Eldad and Medad. We are not told who these two men are, or why God chose them specifically to receive the Spirit, but Moses uses this as an opportunity to express his desire that all of Israel receive the Spirit of prophecy. This also becomes an opportunity for him to teach Joshua that God dispenses His gifts to whomever He wills, not just to appointed leaders. This becomes the same lesson Jesus teaches to His disciples in our Gospel reading when a man they do not recognize also receives the ability to perform mighty acts, stating that he does so by God’s help (Mark 9:38-48).

These incidents of Spirit-filled power foreshadow the general outpouring of the Holy Spirit that begins at Pentecost and continues up to the present day. Although God continues to pour forth His Spirit upon believers today, not all of us are granted the ability to prophesy. Instead, the Spirit brings with Him a diversity of gifts, with each person receiving a different type and measure according to their calling in life (1 Corinthians 12). It remains for us to recognize our own gifts, make use of them to edify others, and encourage others to recognize and make good use of their own gifts.

J. Luis Dizon